Introduction
We landed in Honolulu around 9:40 pm on October 3rd after flying from St. Louis through Seattle. By the time we got our bags and figured out the bus, it was past 10 pm.
Getting from the airport to Waikiki by bus is really easy and cheap. We took Route 19 or 20 (both go to Waikiki). The fare is $3.00 per person as of 2026 – you can check current rates on TheBus website. You either pay exact change on the bus or get a HOLO card, which is their reloadable transit card. The ride took about 45 minutes, and at that hour there was hardly anyone on it.
Our Airbnb was at Liliʻuokalani Ave and Cleghorn St, four blocks from Waikiki Beach. We picked this location because we wanted to walk to the beach every morning but not be right in the middle of all the tourist crowds. It worked out well.
It was great. Also way more expensive than we expected, but we’ll get to that.
Section 1: Settling Into Island Life
Our place on Liliʻuokalani Ave was in a good spot. Four blocks to Waikiki Beach, walking distance to grocery stores, and close to bus stops. The neighborhood had a mix of tourists and locals, lots of small shops and restaurants.
We got into a routine pretty quickly. Most mornings we’d walk to Waikiki Beach before work started. The beach was never crowded that early – maybe some joggers, a few people swimming, but mostly quiet. We’d walk along the water, sometimes sit for a bit, then head back to start work around 8 or 9 am.
Working remotely from Hawaii sounds dreamy, but honestly most of the day we were just at our laptops like anywhere else. The wifi was fine. We worked normal hours, so we couldn’t really explore much during the day. Most of our exploring happened in the mornings, evenings, and weekends.
The Grocery Reality
This is where Hawaii hit different. Groceries were expensive. Like, really expensive. We shopped mostly at Waikiki Market, which was the closest to us. Everything felt like 2-3 times what we’d pay in St. Louis.
Some examples: a gallon of milk was around $8-9, a loaf of bread $5-6, basic produce was marked up significantly. We ended up eating a lot of fruit – pineapples especially because they were actually reasonable and fresh. We made a lot of fruit salads at home instead of eating out every meal.
I don’t have exact weekly grocery totals, but we were definitely spending way more than our normal food budget back home. If you’re planning a long stay, factor in that grocery shock.
Section 2: Exploring on Two Wheels
We rented bikes from Biki, Honolulu’s bike share system. They have stations all around the city – you can pick up a bike at one station and drop it off at another. They have different pass options on their website with current pricing.
KCC Farmers Market
On October 7th we biked to the KCC Farmers Market at Kapiolani Community College. The market is on Saturdays from 7:30 am to 11:00 am. There’s no entry fee, you just show up and walk around.
We didn’t buy a ton of vegetables to bring home, but we did get a whole coconut that they opened right there for us. It was around $10. It was really good – way better than any coconut water from a store. We biked back to the beach after.
The Punchbowl Adventure
October 8th we decided to bike to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (also called Punchbowl). We biked from our place to the closest Biki station near Punchbowl and dropped off the bikes there. Then we walked the rest of the way up because it’s very hilly. The walk up was steep but manageable.
But we made it to Punchbowl Scenic Lookout and the views of Honolulu from up there were amazing. Totally worth the climb.
We walked down a bit and caught a bus to the Honolulu Museum of Art. I don’t remember the exact entry fee – their website shows current admission prices, but I think it was around $20 per person back then. The museum was worth it if you like art.
After that we went back to the beach and somehow ended up in the Infinity Pool at the Sheraton Waikiki. We just walked in. Maybe we looked like we belonged there, I don’t know, but no one checked or stopped us.
Surfing
October 9th We rented a surfboard from Moku Hawaii on the beach. Their rates were $15+Tax for 1-2 hours or $20+Tax for 3-4 hours. We had it for most of the day. Waikiki is apparently one of the best places to learn because the waves are gentle.
Tuesday Hula Performances
On October 10th we caught the free hula performance at Kuhio Beach. This happens every Tuesday evening. It’s a traditional Hawaiian dance performance right on the beach. Free, cultural, and actually really cool to watch. Not sure if it’s year-round or seasonal, so check before you go.
The Convertible Mustang Days
On October 13th we rented a car for three days from a place nearby. We ended up with a Ford Mustang convertible, which was perfect for driving around the island.
Windward Coast Day
First day with the car we drove along the eastern coast. The drive itself is beautiful – you’re right along the ocean most of the way.
We stopped at:
- Makapuu Beach Park – rocky beach with amazing views
- Waimānalo Beach – long stretch of sand, less crowded
- Kailua Beach – popular spot, really pretty water
All of these beaches had free parking when we went. The coast on this side of the island is stunning.
North Shore Adventure
October 14th we drove the other direction to explore the North Shore. This was a longer drive but worth it.
Stopped at Dole Plantation first. It’s touristy but kind of fun. They have a maze, pineapple garden, and the famous Dole Whip. We didn’t spend a ton of time there, just walked around a bit.
Then we hit several beaches along the North Shore:
- Haleʻiwa Beach Park
- Kawailoa Beach
- Papa’Iloa Beach – this is where they filmed parts of the TV show Lost. The beach camp scenes were shot here. Other Lost filming locations around Oahu include Kualoa Ranch and various spots on the North Shore.
- Sunset Beach Park – famous for big winter waves, though in October it was calmer
We got lunch from Tanaka Kahuku Shrimp – Butter Garlic Shrimp for $18.00 per plate. Really good.
Stayed for sunset at Kokololio Beach Park, then drove back to Honolulu. When we got back there was some kind of market happening on Kalakaua Ave – the street was blocked off. There’s always something going on at night in Waikiki.
Lanikai Beach
October 15th, our last day with the car. We went to Tracks Beach Park, then spent most of the day at Lanikai Beach. This might have been our favorite beach on the whole island. The water is incredibly clear and blue, super calm. We stayed until sunset and I flew the drone there to get some shots.
Dropped the car off after that and went back to getting around by bus and walking.
Section 4: Beyond the Beach
We spent most of our time at the beach, but we also explored some cultural and historical spots around Honolulu.
Bishop Museum
October 18th we took the bus to the Bishop Museum. Check their website for current admission rates and directions. The museum focuses on Hawaiian and Pacific Island history and culture. It’s worth going if you want to learn more about Hawaii beyond the beaches.
After the museum we walked around downtown Honolulu for a bit. The downtown area has older buildings, local shops, nothing too touristy.
Pride Parade
October 21st was Pride Day in Honolulu. They blocked off Kalakaua Ave for the parade. We watched for a while – it was a good crowd, lots of energy.
Later that day we took the bus to Pearl Harbor National Memorial. This is free to enter, but you need to reserve tickets in advance on their website – they book up fast. The USS Arizona Memorial is the main thing people go for. It’s heavy, emotional, but important to see if you’re in Honolulu.
Capitol and Iolani Palace
October 23rd we took the bus downtown to see the Hawaii State Capitol building. It’s architecturally unusual – open air design, cone-shaped chambers. You can walk around the grounds for free.
We also walked around the Iolani Palace grounds. This was the royal residence of Hawaiian monarchy. You can tour the inside if you buy tickets, but we just walked around outside. The grounds are free to walk through and the building itself is beautiful.
Other Beach Spots
We also explored Kahanamoku Beach (October 17th and 19th) and the Hilton Lagoon area. Kahanamoku Beach had a really pretty sunset when we went on the 19th. These spots are all walkable from Waikiki.
The Tesla Test Drive Finale
October 26. After work we went out for dinner and got shrimp and cocktails. I don’t remember where exactly or how much we spent, but it was one of those “we’re on vacation” nights.
The 24-Hour Tesla Deal
October 27th we picked up a Tesla Model Y from the Tesla dealership on Kalakaua Ave. They had this 24-hour test drive program where you could take a car and keep it for a full day. I don’t know if they still do this – you’d have to check with Tesla if you’re interested – but it was amazing. Free test drive for 24 hours.
We spent the morning walking on Waikiki Beach, grabbed lunch at Waikiki Market (they have decent food options, not super expensive), then picked up the Tesla. A friend invited us to a Halloween party in Chinatown that night, so we drove around in the Tesla.
Second KCC Farmers Market Trip
October 28th we drove the Tesla back to the KCC Farmers Market. The market is in the parking lot of Kapiolani Community College, right by Diamond Head.
After the market we drove to Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve. This place requires reservations – you have to book online in advance. There’s an entry fee (check their website for current rates) and parking. It’s a protected marine area, really popular for snorkeling. We mostly took pictures and walked around.
Then we hit Makapuu Beach Park and Waimanalo Beach Park again – we’d been to both before but the Tesla made it easy to drive around.
Returned the car to the dealership after our 24 hours were up. Then went to the beach for the rest of the day, and later to Chinatown to see what was happening for Halloween night. The area was busy, lots of people out.
Last Beach Days
October 29th we spent the morning at Waikiki Beach Walls. I flew the drone there. Then basically just beach time for most of the day.
October 30th was our last full day. We walked on the beach in the morning, trying to soak up as much beach time as possible before leaving. That evening we went to Barefoot Beach Cafe for our last Hawaii sunset and got food and drinks. I don’t remember what we ordered or the cost, but it was a good spot to end the trip.
Going Home
October 31st we flew back to St. Louis. We took an early bus to the airport – we were there around 5 am. Same bus routes that brought us in (19 or 20), just way earlier and way less fun than arriving.
A month in Honolulu was long enough to get into a rhythm but not long enough to feel like we’d seen everything. We had our regular spots – Waikiki Beach in the mornings, Waikiki Market for groceries, the same bus routes. But we also got to explore different parts of the island and do things tourists on a week-long trip wouldn’t have time for.
The costs added up. Between the expensive groceries, occasional car rentals, eating out, and activities, Hawaii is not cheap. But spreading it over a month instead of cramming everything into a week made it feel more manageable. We worked most days, so it wasn’t non-stop vacation mode – just life, but with a beach four blocks away.
Would we do it again? Yes. October was a good time to be there – not peak tourist season, weather was great, ocean was warm.
